First, this tour takes you to "Tower of the Sun museum" built at the time of EXPO 70 and was renewed in 2018 as a permanent facility. The inside is a spectacular art space with "Tree of Life" created by Taro Okamoto. Actually this tree shows the evolution of life from ameba to human being. Strongly recommended to see the this tower as a hidden gem.
Then you will visit highlights of Osaka as Osaka castle and Dotombori. With all visiting these spots, you will be filled with satisfaction.
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Your hotel in Osaka
- In the lobby
Tower of the Sun
Explore the inside of the tower and see the "Tree of Life".
Lunch
Osaka castle
See outside and inside of the castle
Dotombori
Enjoy the area of foods and view spots
Ending Point
Your hotel or any requested place
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
guiding fee, hotel pick up in central Osaka
your transportation, entrance fee, lunch
* Basically public transportation as subway and local train are used. Taxi can be used upon request.
* The tour includes around 6 Kilometers' walk.
* Please let me know in advance if you have any food allergies or other dietary restrictions.
This tour is not available on all days in August.
In case you want to book my tour for two or more consecutive days, please send me a message in advance.
My nick name is Rick and Japanese name is Ryoichi. I was born and grew up in Kyoto. Kyoto has so many sightseeing spots based on its 1000 year history. I will propose you the "must see" spots from local eyes not only temples & shrines but also alternative side of Kyoto. As Kyoto certified English guide, I will guide you with high hospitality for your satisfactory stay in Kyoto.
1. For the first visitors
I will prepare the tour with selection out of the spots as Nijo-castle, Imperial Palace, Nishiki-market, Gion amusement quarter, Arashiyama area and some temples and shrines of World Cultural Heritage Sites based on your request and taste.
2. For the visitors who want to see more spots than regular tours
I will prepare some unique tours like visiting Fushimi area for Sake brewery and riding classical boat, visiting some traditional handicrafts ateliers, enjoying traditional performing art, etc.
Please make any inquiry for your preferred type of Kyoto guiding without hesitation. I would be happy to propose you with the type of tour that makes your visit in Kyoto unforgettable one.
Credentials:
National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter (EN01767)
Kyoto City Licensed English Guide (EN00004)
2nd Grade of the licensing examination on knowledge of Kyoto history & culture
Thomas S.
“good guiding and english skills, a little more histoical info would have been nice”
good guiding and english skills, a little more histoical info would have been nice
Rick I.
Dear Thomas, Thank you for the nice review. I hope Kyoto will be one of your best memories in Japan. I appreciate your comment that I should have given you a little more historical information and I will improve my tour based on your advice in future. Thank you anyway for the tour with me and all of your members were so nice! Best regards, Rick
Philipp Z.
“Fantastic half day early bird tour in Kyoto ”
We took the four-hour early bird tour with Rick and had a fantastic time. He is a very friendly and knowledgeable guide who explained many fascinating and unusual details to us and brought us closer to the culture and history of his hometown. In Arashiyama, we visited the beautiful bamboo forest, the Nonomiya Shrine, the impressive Tenryuji Temple, and the idyllic Ohi River. Finally, we visited the old part and the garden of Nijo-jo Castle. Rick explained the exciting period of the Tokugawa shogunate in a very interesting and vivid way. His English is excellent. He lived in the USA for an extended period. Thank you very much for the wonderful and very interesting tour of Kyoto! Philipp & Dominik from Munich, Germany
Rick I.
Dear Philipp, Thank you very much for the nice review! I'm glad you enjoyed the early morning of Kyoto and I'm sure this is the best timing of the day when we can feel this historical city. I hope Kyoto will be one of your best memories in Japan. Best regards, Rick
Laurent H.
“Great one day discovery of Kyoto with Rick”
We just had a wonderful time discovering some of the gems of Kyoto. Rick was a great guide; very flexible with regard to our interests, pleasant, knowledgeable of the sites we visited and skilled at communicating - use of pictures, English was easy to understand.
Rick I.
Dear Laurent, Thank you very much for the nice review! I'm glad that you enjoyed the tour. I also enjoyed the conversation with all the members and everybody was so nice. I hope your memory of Kyoto will be the one of best memories in Japan. Rick
$353/ per group